Galvanically separating coupling location for energy and/or signal transmission

ABSTRACT

In an exemplary embodiment, primary and secondary coupling elements are disposed in a recess of a first housing and in a second housing which can be inserted into the recess of the first housing as a plug part. The coupling elements exhibit connection surfaces which are fitted to one another and via which a coupling location is produced upon production of the plug-type connection. The goal of the disclosure is to construct a galvanically separating coupling location of the type initially cited which, given particularly high electric strength and given optimum insulation, allows energy and/or signal transmission with an optimally high efficiency. This object is inventively achieved in that the coupling elements are suspended in a floating and resilient manner in the respective housings relative to at least one connection surface, preferably, however, relative to respective connection surfaces which enclose the respective coupling elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a galvanically separating coupling location forenergy and/or signal transmission with primary and secondary couplingelements of which one is respectively disposed in a recess of a firsthousing and the other is carried by a second housing which can beinserted as a plug part into the recess of the first housing, wherebythe coupling elements exhibit connection surfaces which fit to oneanother and via which the coupling location is produced by combination,upon production of the plug-type connection.

Coupling locations of this type for devices for tapping and processingphysiological signals such as, particularly, cardiograph signals,pressure signals, temperature signals, etc., are known from medicaltechnology, for example, from the German Utility Model No. 77 36 156 (orGerman Pat. No. 2,752,783). In contrast thereto, British Pat. No.1,383,577 discloses the employment of such a coupling location on shipbodies in sea water, whereas British Pat. No. 1,366,134 and British Pat.No. 1,447,469 discloses examples of coupling locations in generaltechnology in which coils are employed for the transmission of energy,or lightwave guides are employed for the transmission of signals, as theprimary and secondary coupling elements. In all of these couplingelements, there is only a desire for the highest possible efficiency ofthe coupling. This also particularly applies to the coupling locationsaccording to the German Utility Model No. 77 36 156 (and German Pat. No.2,752,783) in the medical area of which particularly high demands aremade with respect to electric strength and insulation. The problemexists here that the separation locations of the coupling must, on theone hand, be particularly voltage stable and optimally insulatedwhereas, on the other hand, it should be guaranteed that energy and/orsignals can be transmitted precisely at said separation location withthe smallest possible losses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to construct a coupling locationof the type initially cited which, given particularly high electricstrength and given optimum insulation, allows energy and/or signaltransmission with an optimally high efficiency.

This object is inventively achieved in that the coupling elements aresuspended by means of a floating and resilient mounting relative to atleast one connection surface, preferably, however, relative torespective connection surfaces relatively allocated to one another.

The floating and resilient suspension of the coupling elements rendersparticularly intensive contact possible in the transmission path at theseparation location of the transmission between the coupling elementsrespectively allocated to one another. Due to this intensive connection,leakage losses hardly occur; despite the optimum insulation at theseparation location, thus, the highest efficiency of the transmissionensues.

In the case of coupling locations where energy and signals aretransmitted, both the coupling elements for the energy transmission aswell as the coupling elements for the signal transmission can besuspended floating and resiliently. By and large, the floatingsuspension will always be recommendable where the coupling elementsexhibit relatively large connection surfaces. Due to unavoidablefabrication tolerances, more or less intensive misconnections occuragain and again insofar as care is not taken that the respectivecoupling element itself seeks the optimum coupling connection with itsconnection surfaces, this, of course, being achieved according to theinvention by means of the floating and resilient suspension. Relativelylarge connection surfaces, however, always exhibit such couplingelements as serve for energy transmission. For this reason, in anadvantageous development of the invention, it is specifically theprimary and/or allocated secondary transmitter component of an energytransmitter which should always be suspended floating and resiliently.The signal coupling elements which, generally, exhibit connectionsurfaces which are very much smaller and in which losses in the signaltransmission are not of such great weight can definitely be rigidlyinstalled in the respective housing; to this end, the housings can beprovided, for example, with niches or insets or the like for theacceptance of the light transmitters or, respectively, the allocatedlight receivers.

Further advantages and details of the invention proceed from thefollowing description of an exemplary embodiment on the basis of theaccompanying sheets of drawings in conjunction with the remainingsubclaims; and other objects, features and advantages will be apparentfrom this detailed disclosure and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in an oblique view;

FIG. 2 shows an insulating body to be constructed of two mating C-shapedparts;

FIG. 3 shows the insulating body with attached back plate in a partialperspective view;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the insulating body with a system of lockinglevers for locking insert housings in the insulating body;

FIG. 5 shows an inventive insert housing in an oblique view;

FIG. 6 shows the back surface of an insert housing according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an ejection mechanism for ejecting the inserting housings,located at the back surface of the insulating body;

FIG. 8 comprised of FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C shows the internal format of aninsert; and

FIG. 9 shows a coupling element for energy connection, partially insection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the device with a device housing 1 constructed indimensions specified in inches with sidewalls 2 and 3, a back wall 4 anda front panel 5, a bottom plate 6 as well as the cover plate 7 which isonly illustrated partially. The device housing 1 is subdivided in itsinside into three compartments 10, 11, and 12 by means of, for example,two partitions 8, 9. A cathode ray tube (not illustrated) for displayingsignals is mounted, for example, in the compartment 10. The compartment11, for example, accepts printed circuit boards with components forsignal processing or, respectively, for signal display. On the otherhand, the compartment 12 serves for the acceptance of the inventiveinsulating body 13 which is designed as a box open toward the front intowhose inside a total of four device inserts 15, 16, 17, and 18 can beinserted proceeding from the front opening 14. The compartment 12 of thedevice housing, thus, can also be defined, for example, as a recesswhich is lined with an insulating body 13 which in turn serves for theacceptance of inserts. However, the insulating body 13 itself can justas easily be designated as providing a recess which serves for theacceptance of device inserts. The device inserts are a component of thesignal transmission system. On the inside, they can be constructedcircuit-wise as is extensively described, for example, in the GermanUtility Model No. 77 36 156 (or, respectively, German Pat. No.2,752,783). What is essential, however, is that each insert exhibits acladding of insulating material with a high electric strength which, inaddition to the printed circuit boards with components and metalshielding for said components, also carries the first half elements of acoupling location for energy and signal transmission to its inside,whereas the second half elements fitting thereto are specifically seatedin the back surface of the insulating body 13 with a connection to thefree space of the compartment 12, as shall be described in detailfarther below.

The device illustrated in FIG. 1 is, specifically, an electromedicaldevice. The inserts 15 through 18, thus, are a part of the signaltransmission system for physiological signals which are taken at thebody of a patient by means of suitable sensors. To this end, thus, thesensors (not illustrated) are positioned on the body of the patient andare coupled via a signal cable (likewise not illustrated) to therespective inserts 15 through 18. The inserts 15 through 18, to thisend, exhibits sockets 19 through 22 for the corresponding plugs of thesignal cable. Of course, the employment of inserts in which the sensorsare always permanently connected to the respective insert via signalcables (i.e., not in a plug-type connection) is also possible. Thelatter case is available when the individual insert housing is designedso as to be relatively low-volume. The insert with the permanentlyconnected cable is then to be interpreted as the device plug itself.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the front panel 5 is specificallydesigned as a foil covered plate. All operating and/or display elements,thus, lie in the plane of the foil as is indicated by the symbols 23,24. The same also applies to the image transmitting window 25 for thepicture screen of the cathode ray tube to be incorporated or,respectively, also applies to the front surfaces of the inserted inserts15 through 18. The front surfaces of the inserts, thus, likewise lie inthe foil plane of the front panel 5 together with the incorporatedoperating and display elements 25 through 29 (28 and 29, for example,are luminescent diodes) which are only schematically illustrated. Thedisposition in one plane prevents the attachment of handles at theinserts with whose assistance plugged-in inserts can again be withdrawnfrom the recess of the device housing. In order, nonetheless, to be ableto guarantee a rapid interchange of inserts, each insert is thereforespecifically equipped with a discharge mechanism at the back wall of theinsulating body 13, said discharge mechanism coming into action when alocking device which locks the insert in the hollow space after it hasbeen inserted is released by means of manual actuation of an unlock keydisposed at the device housing. The individual unlock keys for theinserts are indicated in FIG. 1 at the extreme right-hand edge of thefront panel 5 and are referenced with the numerals 30 through 33.Further details relating to the format and functioning of the dischargemechanism in conjunction with the locking device are described fartherbelow. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, 15, for example, is a CO₂insert, 16 is an insert for pressure measurement, 17 is an insert forelectrocardiographic measurement and 18 is a temperature insert. Ofcourse, the insertion of any other insert for a different measurementsignal is possible.

According to FIG. 2, the insulating body 13 is composed of two matingC-shaped parts 34 and 35. Both C-shaped parts are fabricated ofsynthetic amino-butadiene-styrol (ABS) which is easy to shape and which,moreover, is relatively price-favorable as well. In order, given arelatively large outside surface of the insulating body, to make do withas little insulating material as possible, the two parts 34 and 35 arespecifically shaped as ribbed bodies. Each of the parts 34 and 35, thus,comprises ribs 36 at its perimeter which keep the inside wall of theinsulating body, upon insertion of insulating layers consisting of airbetween the ribs, at a prescribable distance from the metal walls of thehousing compartment 12. In the present case, the depth of the grooves,particularly at the sidewalls of the parts 34, 35, amounts toapproximately 7 mm. At the upper and lower surfaces of the parts 34, 35,the depth is decreased to a value up to approximately 3 mm for reasonsof assembly. The thickness of the ribs amounts to approximately 1.5 mm.The material width of the inside wall of the parts 34, 35 amounts toapproximately 3 mm. The insulating body composed of the two C-shapedparts 34 and 35 when assembled exhibits an outside width and depth oftwo inches by eight inches, measured from outside rib to outside rib.The height of the box-shaped insulating part lies at approximately 180mm (corresponding to four height units). In the present exemplaryembodiment, this dimensioning of the rib body 13 and the selection ofthe corresponding insulating synthetic material leads to the fact thatthe capacitance between the metal parts within the housing of theinserts 15 through 18 and metal parts outside of the insulating body 13(shielding walls of the compartment 12 of the device housing or,respectively, metal parts situated at the back wall of the insulatingbody 13) is limited to a value of less than 130 picofarads (<130 pF)related to an operating voltage of 220 V and an operating frequency of50 Hz. Given this capacitance, an operating current which may possiblybe fluctuating is at a safely low level of less than ten microamperes(<10 μA).

In FIG. 2, the two parts 34 and 35 of the insulating body have pins 37at the mutually facing assembly edges at respectively one assembly edgeof the one half part which fit to corresponding adjustment holes 38 atthe mating edge of the other half part. After assembly of the two parts34 and 35, said parts are screwed to one another at the assembly stripsat the front via aligned screw holes 39 at the upper surface andcorresponding aligned screw holes 39 at the base, so that only twoscrews secure the C-shaped parts 34, 35 together at the front. Theanalogous case applies to two corner screw holes 40 at the back of theupper surface of the C-shaped parts (only one hole 40 being visible inFIG. 2). The corner screw holes 40 are aligned with corner holes at theupper edge of an attachable back wall to fasten said back wall withparts 34, 35. The lower surfaces of the two C-shaped parts 34, 35, onthe other hand, are pressed together at the back side by means of aspecific shaping of the back wall which can be inserted into two grooves41, 42 at the back longitudinal edges of the assembled C-shaped parts 34and 35. When the back wall is inserted, the insulating body 13 composedof the two parts 34, 35 forms a box which is opened toward the front,into which the inserts can be inserted. For drawer-like insertion of theindividual inserts 15 through 18, the two parts 34, 35 have longitudinaltracks 43 through 46 at their respective inside walls. Said longitudinaltracks are shaped in such manner that a relatively flat wall camber 47is followed by a more greatly cambered longitudinal ridge 48(illustrated on the example of track 44). This results in the fact thatthe insert to be inserted, carried by the respective ridge 48 of a guiderail 43 through 46, has its exterior sidewalls in sliding relation onlyto the slight camber 47, i.e., the exterior sidewalls of the insert donot slide against the inside wall of the insulating body at the entirelateral surfaces thereof. By so doing, a particularly low-frictionoperation of each insert ensues. The ridge cambers are slightly rounded;the cambered central ridge 48 fits to a corresponding slide channel atthe longitudinal edges of each insert. Slide ridges 43 through 46 andslide channels at the inserts not only ensure low-friction slidingbecause of their rounded nature; the rounded ridges and glide channelsalso avoid sharp edges at which dirt easily builds up. This type ofgliding seating is thus also optimally designed from the viewpoint ofcleanliness. In FIG. 2, finally, the unlock keys for the system oflocking levers are again indicated at the right-hand outside edge of thepart 34 with 30 through 33. Thereby, the unlock keys 30 through 33project from openings 49 through 52 of the edge of the part 34 to suchan amount that, after assembly of the insulating body in the compartment12 of the device housing 1, the end face of each catch key liesapproximately in the plane of the cover foil of the front panel 5 whenthe front surface of the plate forming panel 5 is covered with the foil.The actuation of an unlock key 30 through 33 then ensues by means ofpressure against the foil at the location of the unlock key. Pressing anunlock key 30 through 33 effects that, specifically in the present case,a catch lever is actuated via a lever system. The catch noses or latchesof the respective catch lever which respectively engage in a groove at alateral edge of the insert when the insert is in its inserted state arereferenced with 53 through 56 in FIG. 2 at the back, inside of the rightpart 34. Further details concerning the format and functioning of thelocking device proceed from the description to FIG. 4 which is yet tofollow.

FIG. 3, in a partial view, shows the C-shaped insulating parts 34 and 35(combined to form an overall body) obliquely from below and rotated byapproximately 180° in comparison to the illustration of FIG. 2. The backplate 57 inserted into the grooves 41 and 42 is now also shown. Shortlybefore complete insertion of the plate 57, the flanged edges 58 and 59of said back plate slide at their lowest end over two slightly inclinedsurfaces 60 and 61 at the back lower edges of the two C-shaped parts 34and 35. Thus, the edges 58 and 59 exert pressure against the baseportions of the two C-shaped parts 34, 35 via the increasing obliquesurfaces 60 and 61. The two parts 34, 35 are pressed together at thislocation and thereby adhere well to one another to provide anencompassing insulating shell for surrounding the inserts 15-18, FIG. 1.The back plate 57 likewise consists of synthetic insulating material,preferably ABS again. It is not only the back terminating part of theinsulating body 13; on the contrary, the back plate 57 also serves as acarrier of those partial elements of the coupling location which, ashalf parts, at the device side, fit to the half parts in the inside ofthe inserts. In FIG. 3, thus, the back plate 57 exhibits a total of fouracceptance cylinders for transmission bodies for energy transmission ofwhich, however, only two can be seen--referenced with 62 and 63--becauseof the partial illustration. The upper edge of each assembly cylinder62, 63, etc. which faces away from the back plate 57 is tapered in aridge-like manner. The shoulder 64 of the ridge tapering of the upperedge, thereby, serves as a seating surface for an assembly plate (151,FIG. 9) which is centered by means of the actual upper edge round ridge65. The assembly plate is again the carrier of the transmission bodies(e.g. 153, FIG. 9) in a floating suspension. The assembly plate itselfis seated on a printed circuit board (159, FIG. 9) on which theelectronic components required for the energy transmission and signaltransmission are mounted. In the present case, the signal transmissionfrom the insert in the direction of the signal processing parts of thedevice ensues by means of luminescent diodes, preferably in the infraredrange. For this purpose, four light receivers (for example, photodiodes)at the device side are provided as secondary signal coupling elementsfor a total of four transmit diodes which are disposed as primary signalcoupling elements in the respective insert 15 through 18. The mountingniches for the light receivers are indicated on the mounting plate 57with the numerals 66, 67, etc. Accordingly, inserts 68, 69, etc. fortransmission diodes are provided on the back plate 57 of the insulatingbody for signal transmission (switching or other control signals) fromthe inside of the device housing in the direction of the inserts. Theluminescent diodes to be employed there are then the primary couplingelements for a transmit case; the allocated receivers are seated assecondary coupling elements within the insert housing. If, thus, aninsert 15 through 18 is inserted into a receiving position of theinsulating housing 13 up to its final position, then an automaticcoupling connection between coupling elements for energy transmissionfrom the device to the insert and coupling elements for signaltransmission both from the insert in the direction toward the devicehousing as well as from the device housing in the direction toward theinsert is produced. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the backplate 57, beyond that, also comprises threaded mounting sleeves 70 forscrewing the printed circuit board carrying the mounting plate down, andthe first two ejectors 71 and 72 of a total of four ejectors for arespective insert can be seen at the left side of the plate 57.

FIG. 4, as already indicated above, shows the right lateral wall of theinsulating body 13 as seen from the opening, the lever system for thelocking of the individual inserts 15 through 18 being mounted at saidsidewall. For each insert, said lever system thereby comprises a catchlever 73, 74, etc. with the lock noses 53 through 56 illustrated in FIG.2. An actuation lever 75, 76, etc., is allocated to each catch lever 73,74, etc., said actuation lever 75, 76, etc. being deflected givenpressure on the final unlock key 30, 31, etc. and actuating the catchlever. Each deflection lever 75, 76, etc is comprised of two parts whichcan be adjusted to a desired overall length of the lever by means of arespective adjustment screw 77, 78, etc. Beyond that, each deflectionlever 75, 76, etc., strikes via a pointed end 79, 80, etc. into a cavityof the end of the lock lever 73, 74, etc. facing away from the lock noseand bent off at approximately 90°. Given pressure on said cavity,accordingly, the lever is rotated toward the inside around its revolutejoint 83, 84, etc. against the pressure of a spring 85, 86, etc. whichis seated in a niche 87, 88, 89, 90 of the sidewall. Said rotationtoward the inside of the one lever end leads to an upward rotation ofthe other lever end with the latches 53 through 56. The latches 53through 56 projecting into the inside of the insulating body through thesidewall opening 91 are lifted upwardly. Each latch is lifted out of thecorresponding catch groove of the insert and the insert is ejected fromthe insulating housing by the ejection mechanism. In the locking deviceof FIG. 4, the longitudinal levers 75, 76, etc. are seated in niches 92of the ribs of the sidewall. In order to secure the lock lever 73, 74 inaddition to the springs 85, 86 against ejection from their supportmounts, there serves a synthetic plate 93 (illustrated with dot-dashlines) which is secured in place by means of a screw and a threaded hole93' at the sidewall of the insulating housing above the levers andsprings.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an insert, for example, of theinsert 15 in FIG. 1. Each of the inserts comprises a jacket housing 94of highly-insulating synthetic material, for example, ABS again, whichis open only at its front side. Along its longitudinal edges, thehighly-insulating jacket 94 is provided with the aforementionedwell-rounded glide channels 95 which are therefore also easy to clean. Alatch-receiving groove 96 in which a block 97 consisting of hardsynthetic material, particularly polyamide glass fiber, is bonded issituated at the back end of the right upper edge of the insert jacket94. The hard block 97 protects the lock-in groove 96 against loads whichare all too great due to the latch of the locking lever. The frontopening of the jacket housing 94 of each insert is tightly closed withan insert front plate. FIG. 6 shows the back surface of a rear wall 98of the jacket housing 94. In its center (indicated with broken lines),said rear wall 98 has its material thinned disk-like. The thinning atthis location guarantees a particularly tight coupling of thetransmission body (e.g. 137, FIG. 9) on the side of the insert to thattransmission body (e.g. 153, FIG. 9) on the side of the device at theback plate 57 on the insulating body in the final position of theinsert. Reference numerals 100 and 101 indicate two windows for theinfrared light of the two signal transmission couplers of each insert.The window may be a red-dyed synthetic material or a true infraredtransmitting filter. The two windows are acoustically irradiated intothe rear wall 98 by means of ultrasonics in such manner as to be waterand airtight as well as high voltage resistant.

FIG. 7 shows the ejection mechanism at the back plate 57 of theinsulating body in detail. In addition to the ejection blocks 71, 72 ofFIG. 3, a third ejection block 102 is also illustrated. A fourthejection block is no longer drawn in because of the partialillustration. Each block 71, 72, 102, etc., comprises a ram element 103,104, 105, etc. Each of said ram elements is connected to a tappet 106,107, 108, etc. which is resiliently mounted in the inside face 112, 113,114, etc. of the respective ejection blocks by means of a helical spring109, 110, 111, etc. Securing rings 115, 116, 117, etc. serve for theexternal securing of the tappets. If, thus, an insert is inserted intothat level of the insulating housing 13 allocated to it, then, due tothe back wall of the insert, the ram element (of elements 103 through105) together with one of the tappets 106 through 108, etc., situated atthe level is pressed toward the back against the pressure of theassociated one of springs 109 through 111 surrounding the tappets.Finally, the insert retained in its final position by means of one oflatches 53 through 56 of the lock levers 73, 74, etc. presses againstthe ram element (103 through 105, etc.), until the locking is releasedby means of the lock lever by means of pressure on the appertainingunlock key (30 through 33) of the system of locking levers. The springpower of the cocked spring (109 through 111) then insures that theinsert is ejected by the ejection element (103 through 105) from theinside of the insulating body, at least to such degree that it can beeasily grasped by hand at its front side and be withdrawn. In apreferred embodiment, each tappet also trips a switch, particularly amicroswitch, in such manner that the current supply to the primarytransmitter on the device side is interrupted when an insert is ejected.

As an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 8 shows the internal format of aninsert 15 through 18. Said internal format is characterized in that atotal of two printed circuit boards 120 and 121 are mounted between thefront part 118 of the insert and a back part 119 in the manner of aplug-type connection. The essential electronic components for energy andsignal transmission are mounted on said printed circuit boards. Thispartial structure comprised of front and back surface as well as printedcircuit boards, finally, is covered in a sandwich manner by means of twometallic shielding plates 122 and 123 (for example, consisting ofaluminum or nonmagnetic sheet steel). Both shielding plates 122 and 123are provided with claws 124 or, respectively, 125 at the front edge.When the respective plate is seated with flat edges 126, 127 or,respectively, 128, 129 on the inside shoulder of the front plate 118,the claws 124 or, respectively, 125 engage in recesses below theshoulder, so that a type of clamped connection for supporting the frontedge of the two plates 122 and 123 is produced at the shoulder. The backedges 130 or, respectively, 131 of the plates 122 and 123, on the otherhand, rest on the edges of the back part 119. They are screwed to theback part via screw holes 132, 133 or, respectively, 134, 135. Thecentral parts of the shielding plates 122, 123, via claws 136, lieresiliently against the side edges of the printed circuit boards 120 and121. In the same embodiment of FIG. 8, the back part 119 is fabricatedof metallized synthetic material for the purpose of shielding. The backpart 119, at the same time, is the carrier of half parts of couplinglocations for energy and signal transmission. Thus, among other things,it carries a pot core in floating suspension for the acceptance of acoil body as a secondary part of a coupling location for energytransmission from the device to the insert. For signal transmission fromthe insert to the device, an inset for a transmit diode 138 (luminescentdiode) is disposed at the left side and, for signal transmission fromthe device to the insert, a niche for a light receiver 139 (photodiode)is disposed at the right-hand side. A signal cable line 140 serves forthe line-wise connection between the front plate 118 (foil front platewith integrated switches) of the insert and printed circuit boards 120,121, whereas a signal cable line 141 is provided for the connection ofthe printed circuit boards to one another. A plug-type connection 142,143 serves for the production of a line connection for the energytransmission from the coil body seated in the pot core 137 to theappertaining circuit part on the printed circuit boards. The plug 142 isseated at the back part 119; the plug 143 is disposed on the printedcircuit board 120. In its assembled state, the overall structure of FIG.8 can be inserted into the highly-insulating jacket housing 94 of theinsert from the front side. An insert as is illustrated in FIG. 5 thusresults.

In a sectional detail, FIG. 9 shows a coupling location for energytransmission as is produced when an insert is brought into its finalposition in the insulating housing. In a partial sectional illustration,accordingly, the rear wall 98 of the insert housing 94 with a materialthinning 99 in its center is again illustrated. The material thinning 99is also provided with a centering cross 144. The transmitter carrier isreferenced with 145. Said carrier carries the pot core 137 on the insertside already illustrated in FIG. 8 for acceptance of the coil body atthe secondary side. The pot core 137 is slotted at 146, and theconnection wires for the coil body are simultaneously conducted throughthe slot 146. The transmitter carried together with pot core and coilbody is resiliently suspended by means of a suspension nipple 147 uponincorporation of a spring 148 at the back part 119. A retaining ring 149secures the arrangement against falling out.

The suspension of the transmitter on the side of the device presents asimilar structure. The back plate of the insulating housing 13 is againreferenced with 57. In accord with FIG. 3, the back plate 57 carries,for example, the assembly cylinder 62 with shoulder 64 and centeringridge 65 of the ridge tapering of the upper edge. The mounting plate 151for a transmitter carrier 152 at the device side with mounted pot core153 with slot 154 for the coil body at the device side is seated on theupper edge of the acceptance cylinder 62 shaped in such manner. Thetransmitter structure is again suspended in a floating manner at theassembly plate 151 by means of support nipple 155 and spring 156 as wellas retaining ring 157. The carrier of the assembly plate 151 is aprinted circuit board 159 which carries the electronic componentsnecessary for energy and signal transmission. A snap nipple 158 which issimply snapped into the printed circuit board serves for securing theassembly plate 151 to the printed circuit board 159. A mounting pin 160between the transmitter carrier 152 and assembly plate 151 again servesto prevent twisting as does a pin 161 between the assembly plate 151 andthe printed circuit board 159, whereas 162 is a very thin sealing foilwhich is stretched over the inside surface of the back plate 57.

Thus, what is achieved with the invention is not only that couplingcapacitances between metal parts in the inside of the inserts and metalparts in the inside of the device housing can be kept as small aspossible even given large-volume or, respectively, large-surface designof the plug-in type connection so that the leakage current also becomesnegligibly small; but, beyond that, due to the special shaping of theinsulating body and due to its particularly functional combination withfurther components such as, for example, ejection mechanism inconjunction with locking device, structural allocation of the individualcomponents of each coupling location to one another, etc., a device iscreated which can be optimally and space-savingly employed in the senseof the invention. The illustrated embodiment itself has only exemplarycharacter; it is self-understood that modifications of the structuredescribed are possible in any desired form within the framework of theinvention.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts andteachings of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:
 1. A coupling apparatus for providing a coupling location for energy and/or signal transmission, comprising a first housing (1) having a recess (14), a second housing (15) insertable as a plug-part into the recess (14) of the first housing (1), first and second inductive coupling elements (137, 153), said first coupling element (153) disposed in the recess (14) of the first housing (1) and said second coupling element (137) seated in the second housing (15), the coupling elements (137, 153) having cooperating coupling surfaces which fit to one another to produce the coupling location when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14), where said first and second coupling elements (137, 153) are galvanically separated from each other but inductively coupled to each other when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14), a spring means for suspending one of the coupling elements (137, 153) in a floating and resilient manner in the respective housing (1, 15) such that the coupling surface of the one coupling element 137, 153 is resiliently adaptable to the cooperating coupling surface of the other one of the coupling elements (137, 153) and said one coupling element (137, 153) automatically seeks an optimum mechanical position for energy and/or signal transmission between said inductive coupling elements (137, 153) when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14), one of the housings (1, 15) having a carrier (57, 51) for supporting the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) in said floating and resilient manner, the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) having a retaining nipple (147, 155) loosely securing the coupling elements (137, 153) with the associated carrier, a spring (148, 156) interposed between the coupling elements (137, 153) and the associated carrier (57, 151, 119) for accommodating universal tilting and adaptation of the coupling element (137, 153), and a retaining means (149, 157) secured to the retaining nipple (147, 155) to retain the retaining nipple (147, 155) in engagement with the associated carrier (57, 151, 119) while accommodating universal tilting of the associated coupling element.
 2. A coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coupling apparatus has coupling elements (138, 139) for signal transmission, and wherein both coupling elements (137, 153) for energy transmission and coupling elements (138, 139) for signal transmission have a spring means for suspending said coupling elements (137, 153; 138, 139) in a floating and resilient manner for automatically seeking an optimum mechanical position for signal and/or energy transmission when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14).
 3. Coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second coupling elements comprise cooperating primary and secondary energy transmission components (137, 145, 146; 152, 153, 154) for transmitting energy via the coupling location.
 4. A coupling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inductive coupling element which is resiliently supported has a carrier body (145, 152) with a mounted pot core (137, 153) and a coil, said carrier body (145, 152) carrying said retaining nipple (147, 155) loosely engaged with said carrier (57, 151, 119) and said spring (148, 156) acting on said carrier body (145, 152) for accommodating tilting of the associated coupling element.
 5. A coupling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the pot core (137, 153) mounted on the carrier body (145, 152) is slotted to provide a respective slot (146, 154) serving as a connection line feed path to the coil.
 6. Coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recess (14) in the first housing (1) is subdivided into a plurality of levels; and further comprising a plurality of second housings (15-18), said second housings being inserted into one of the levels for forming at least one signal coupling location and at least one energy coupling location for each second housing (15-18) at its respective level, each second housing (15-18) having a secondary inductive energy coupling element (137) forming a part of its respective energy coupling location and mounted at a wall (98) of the second housing (15-18), and the first housing (1) having a primary inductive energy coupling element (153) mounted at a wall (57, 151) thereof at each of the respective levels to provide a cooperating part for the respective energy coupling location.
 7. Coupling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first housing (1) has a back wall (57) at the back of the recess (13), said back wall (57) providing a cylindrical acceptance space (62, 63) for mounting the primary energy coupling element (153) for the energy coupling location of each level.
 8. Coupling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each second housing (15-18) comprises a jacket housing (94) of highly insulating material, and a metallicly shielded printed circuit board structure inserted into the jacket housing (94) from the front side thereof, said printed circuit board structure supporting a back part (119) at which the secondary energy coupling element (137,) of the energy coupling location is suspended in a floating and resilient manner.
 9. Coupling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the back part (119) of the printed circuit board structure is comprised of metallized synthetic material.
 10. Coupling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said printed circuit board structure and the first housing comprised carriers for cooperating light transmitters (138) as the primary signal coupling component for signal transmission therefrom, and light receivers (139) as the secondary signal coupling element for transmission of signals thereto.
 11. Coupling apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the carriers comprise niches (66, 67, etc.) and insets (68, 69, etc.) disposed at the back wall (57) of the first housing (1) and at the printed circuit board structure.
 12. Coupling location according to claim 10, characterized in that synthetic windows (100, 101) matched to the light which is to pass through are constructed water- and airtight and high voltage resistant and are aligned with the carriers for the cooperating light transmitters (138) and light receivers (139).
 13. A coupling apparatus for providing a coupling location for energy and/or signal transmission, comprising a first housing (1) having a recess (14), a second housing (15) insertable as a plug-part into the recess (14) of the first housing (1), first and second inductive coupling elements (137, 153), said first coupling element (153) disposed in the recess (14) of the first housing (1) and said second coupling element (137) seated in the second housing (15), the coupling elements (137, 153) having cooperating coupling surfaces which fit to one another to produce the coupling location by inserting said second housing (15) into said recess (14), whereby said first and second coupling elements (137, 153) are galvanically separated from each other but inductively coupled to each other when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14), at least one of the coupling elements (135, 153) being suspended in a floating and resilient manner in the respective housing (1, 15) to mount the coupling surface of the one coupling element (137, 153) so as to be resiliently adaptable to the cooperating coupling surface of another one of the coupling elements (137, 153) for energy and/or signal transmission between said inductive coupling elements (137, 153), one of the housings (1, 15) having a carrier (57, 151; 119) for supporting the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) in said floating and resilient manner, the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) having a retaining nipple (147; 155) loosely securing the coupling element (137, 153) with the associated carrier, a spring (148; 156) interposed between the coupling element (137; 153) and the associated carrier (57, 151; 119) for accommodating universal tilting and adaptation of the coupling element (137; 153), and a retaining means (149; 157) secured to the retaining nipple (147; 155) to retain the retaining nipple (147, 155) in resilient engagement with the associated carrier (57, 151; 119) while accommodating universal tilting of the associated coupling element (137, 153), said recess (14) in the first housing (1) being subdivided into a plurality of levels; and further comprising a plurality of second housings (15-18), said second housing being inserted into one of the levels for forming at least one signal coupling location and at least one energy coupling location for each second housing (15-18) at its respective level, each second housing (15-18) having a secondary inductive energy coupling element (137) forming a part of its respective energy coupling location and mounted at a wall (98) of the second housing (15- 18), and the first housing (1) having a primary inductive energy coupling element (153) mounted at a wall (57, 151) thereof at each of the respective levels to provide a cooperating part for the respective energy coupling location, said second housing (15-18) having an insulating partition wall (98) of reduced thickness at a connection surface (99) thereof which approximately corresponds to the area of the energy coupling elements (137, 153) at the associated energy coupling location for maintaining the distance between said energy coupling elements (137, 153) at the energy coupling location small and, for maintaining the energy transmission losses low.
 14. Coupling apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a covering wall on a side of the first housing (1) having a connection surface of reduced thickness.
 15. Coupling apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising at least one centering pin (144) in said partition wall of reduced thickness, said centering pin (144) fitting a centering opening in the energy coupling element (137) associated therewith.
 16. A coupling apparatus for providing a coupling location for energy and/or signal transmission, comprising a first housing (1) having a recess (14), a second housing (15) insertable as a plug-part into the recess (14) of the first housing (1), first and second inductive coupling elements (137, 153), said first coupling element (153) disposed in the recess (14) of the first housing (1) and said second coupling element (137) seated in the second housing (15), the coupling elements (137, 153) having cooperating coupling surfaces which fit to one another to produce the coupling location by inserting said second housing (15) into said recess (14), whereby said first and second coupling elements (137, 153) are galvanically separated from each other but inductively coupled to each other when said second housing (15) is inserted into said recess (14), at least one of the coupling elements (135, 153) being suspended in a floating and resilient manner in the respective housing (1, 15) to mount the coupling surface of the one coupling element (137, 153) so as to be resiliently adaptable to the cooperating coupling surface of another one of the coupling elements (137, 153) for energy and/or signal transmission between said inductive coupling elements (137, 153), one of the housing (1, 15) having a carrier (57, 151; 119) for supporting the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) in said floating and resilient manner, the one of said coupling elements (137, 153) having a retaining nipple (147; 155) loosely securing the coupling element (137, 153) with the associated carrier, a spring (148; 156) interposed between the coupling element (137, 153) and the associated carrier (57, 151; 119) for accommodating universal tilting and adaptation of the coupling element (137; 153), and a retaining means (149; 157) secured to the retaining nipple (147; 155) to retain the retaining nipple (147, 155) in resilient engagement with the associated carrier (57, 151; 119) while accommodating universal tilting of the associated coupling element (137, 153), said first housing (1) being subdivided into a plurality of levels; and further comprising a plurality of second housings (15-18), said second housings being inserted into one of the levels for forming at least one signal coupling location and at least one energy coupling location for each second housing (15-18) at its respective level, each second housing (15-18) having a secondary inductive energy coupling element (137) forming a part of its respective energy coupling location and mounted at a wall (98) of the second housing (15-18), and the first housing (1) having a primary inductive energy coupling element (153) mounted at a wall (57, 151) thereof at each of the respective levels to provide a cooperating part for the respective energy coupling location said first housing (1) having a back wall (57) at the back of the recess (14), said back wall (47) providing a cylindrical acceptance space (62, 63) for mounting the primary energy coupling element (153) for the energy coupling location of each level and wherein the acceptance space (62, 63) comprises an assembly cylinder tapered in a ridge-like manner at the edge facing away from the back wall (57) to provide a centering annular ridge (65), said cylinder having a shoulder (64) adjacent the annular ridge (65) which serves as a seating surface, said apparatus further comprising an assembly plate (151) mounted on the assembly cylinder and centered by means of the annular ridge (65), said assembly plate (151) mounting the primary coupling element (152, 153, 154) in a suspended floating and resilient manner.
 17. Coupling apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that, in order to prevent a twisting between the assembly plate (151) and the energy coupling element mounted thereon (152, 153, 154), an assembly pin (160) engages with the assembly plate (151) and with the energy coupling element while accommodating the resilient floating relationship therebetween.
 18. Coupling apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that, in order to secure against twisting between the assembly plate (151) and the printed circuit board (159), an assembly pin (161) engages between the assembly plate and the printed circuit board.
 19. Coupling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a printed circuit board (159) is supported by the assembly plate (151) and is secured to the back wall (57) of the recess 13, and wherein electronic components required for energy and signal transmission are mounted on the printed circuit board (159).
 20. Coupling apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the assembly plate (151) is secured to the printed circuit board (159) by means of snap nipples (158). 